by Ali Vali
“Phil noticed them yesterday, but they’re still there now. It could be coincidence, but I didn’t think you should count on that, so we moved you to a place down the street. I’ll start getting all our bags slowly so I don’t attract attention.”
“Have you had any luck spotting Tracy?” That he’d completely lost touch with the sister of the one woman who he’d ever admitted to being his equal was making him a little crazy. He still thought of Kim every day and missed her soothing touch no matter what was going on.
“Our guys working the streets say she’s Hector’s new bitch.” Mike could’ve stated it differently, but he guessed it was his way of ripping the Band-Aid off with as little lasting pain as he could. “She’s been keeping company with him, but Marisol, Hector’s daughter, supposedly doesn’t like her.”
“That means she’ll be lucky to live out the year. I mean, if Marisol kills her, what’s Hector going to do, retaliate? He won’t come down with a life-ending punishment since she’s the next in line for him.”
“We have to find Freddie. All those cops took in our entire inventory. It won’t take long for word to get back to Hector that a lot of that stack had his mark on them.”
That made him lift his head, and he cringed when the pain shot forward. “Does anything in there lead back to us?”
“Yeah,” Mike said, glancing in the rearview mirror with an expression of confusion. “The other bags had our mark on them, sir.”
“How long before we get back to the city?” Santino asked.
“A couple of hours, depending on traffic.”
“Then give Phil a call and tell him to start putting money on the street for information on anyone who can give us the names of anyone who stole from us.”
Nunzio rubbed the back of his neck and smiled. “Good idea, Nino. Then tell him to find someone willing to swear on his mother that the theft leads back to Casey. It’ll make sense to Hector that if she stole from me, she’s responsible for those houses of his that got hit too.”
“Tell him we’ll need like three people willing to tell that story. Once you get them lined up, then we’ll have to make sure Delarosa’s people find them as well.” Santino reached over and massaged the back of his neck. “Get some sleep,” he said as Nunzio closed his eyes. “We need to redirect Hector for now so we can work the deal we made.”
“I don’t think Hector will figure it out that fast. He doesn’t have the network in town that Casey or the others have, so I doubt any of the cops are letting him know what’s going on,” Nunzio said as he tried to fight through the wave of nausea threatening to make him order Mike to pull over. He took a bunch of deep breaths, but his headache got worse and he started sweating.
“Hector might not be liked, but he’s got the cash that will grease cooperation.”
“Then let’s hope that we’re done with Cesar by then,” he said before he couldn’t hold it anymore and was suddenly sick. He opened his mouth and a wave of vomit came out, covering his shoes and bottom of his pants with what they’d eaten on the plane earlier.
Santino shied away at first but yelled at Mike to stop when Nunzio slumped into his lap. “Nunzio,” he screamed over and over, but there was no response.
“Find the closest hospital,” Santino said, forgetting about the mess in the back of the car. “Don’t you dare quit on me now,” he said as he held Nunzio as best he could, relieved that he was still breathing. “We have too much to do for you to give up.”
*
It was late by the time Cain finished with Shelby, so she felt bad having to get Katlin out of bed to come back and pick her up, but she didn’t want to lose the freedom that going out the back way gave her. That the feds hadn’t covered that part of her office with their surveillance surprised her, but it was either a logistics problem, money, or they considered her a creature of habit.
If it’s the last reason, she thought, they should’ve caught on by now. In her opinion, her only habit was to not adhere too much to habits.
She glanced down at her phone as she got back inside the warehouse and smiled when she saw the picture of Father Andrew with Hannah that Hayden had taken the last time he’d come to dinner. “I’d have thought all good shepherds would’ve been asleep by now.”
“Every so often we stay up nights worrying about the black sheep in our flock,” he shot back, and she laughed. Her father’s old friend had been good to her through the years, and she truly enjoyed his somewhat cutting humor. “I’m calling, though, because I heard there’s a new Casey for the Lord to watch over.”
“William Cain got here just fine and took it easy on his mom,” she said, still basking in that happy moment despite the rest of the shit going on.
“Could I come by tomorrow and take a look at the boy and his beautiful mother?”
“I’m sure she’d like that. You two can discuss when we take that fancy dress out of mothballs and baptize him.”
“There’s another reason I called, Derby.”
“You need another drop in that collection plate?” she said and stood back as the doors opened and Katlin pulled in.
“You’re more than kind in that regard, so no. I had a dream about your father and woke up thinking about you all day, so I thought I’d check in and see how you’re doing as well.” Andrew had an almost trance-inducing voice, and she sat for a moment and relaxed as he spoke. “You’ve always got a million things going, but I want to be sure you’re not forgetting all the things most important.”
“Before this baby came, I tried my best to find ways to make peace and be able to go about my business without a lot of problems.”
“But,” he said, and she nodded.
“But the past isn’t always my friend, Father,” she said, and Katlin shut the engine off. “I can confess, though, that the fight this time came looking for me, not the other way around.”
“If you’re like your father, and you are, down to that lock of hair constantly in your eyes, all the fights come looking for you.”
“I’d worry if they were battles I thought I’d lose, but I’ve got you in my corner, so I sleep better at night knowing that.”
He laughed and said a quick blessing over her. “While you do have me praying for you, still take care to not step in front of any bullets. The Lord will protect you only to a point.”
“Will do and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Things okay?” Katlin asked.
She wanted to sit up front to make it easier to talk, but tonight it had to be the backseat.
“Between me and you, I have a feeling that all this stuff is like a thousand tea kettles on hot fires. They’re rolling and boiling, but they haven’t whistled yet.” She was surprised to see some people already had their Christmas decorations up, since Thanksgiving was still a week away. “It’s all going to stay that way unless I can start to find some of these people and put myself out of my misery.”
“What do you think about the warehouse in Destrehan? And who the hell did you have empty that place out?” Katlin took the most direct route and went a tick over the speed limit, seemingly anxious to get them home.
“Merrick had some guys take care of it, since I figured Yury and Victoria wouldn’t necessarily die on the street. Someone somewhere has to be pissed about that, and they met with me last. I’m the first logical person to hit.”
“By blowing up an empty building?” Katlin honked the horn for a second halfway down their street so the gate would be open when they got there. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s like the birth announcements Emma’s mailing out as soon as they’re done. A big boom says here I am. It also says I think I know what you did, but I’m not sure.”
“So it’s one of their lieutenants or something?”
“It’s like Nunzio and Santino’s whereabouts. I don’t know.” She got out and glanced toward the pool house and saw the lights still on. “And in our world, those are the most dreaded three words I can think of. ‘I don’t know’
can get people killed.”
“Want to come over for a drink or something?”
“Tomorrow’s soon enough. Get some sleep, and let Merrick know I’ll expect you both for breakfast.”
“Will do, and kiss the baby for us. He’s a cutie.”
Before she headed to bed she stopped and checked on Hannah and Hayden, finding her son still awake with a book in his hand. “It’s late, buddy.” She sat on the edge of his bed and put it on his nightstand when he handed it over.
“Anything going on, Mom?” he asked, moving to lie down.
“Plenty, but I’m working on clearing my load so we can go have some fun when your mama feels better.” She combed his hair, remembering what Andrew had said about that stubborn lock. From the look of it, the damn thing skipped no generation.
“I think you should take Mama out on a date,” he said, and the order made her chuckle.
“Oh yeah?” She moved her hand and laid it flat on his chest. “Anything else I should do?”
“I was thinking the other day about what it was like with just the two of us.”
“I’m not neglecting you, am I?” That was one thing both she and Emma tried not to do to either him or Hannah, but she’d have to try to do better now.
“No. I was thinking about how we were happy, but it’s so much better now. I don’t want anything to happen that would change it, so you have to find Grandmother Carol and do something.” He twisted his blanket in his fists, and his voice had grown softer but fiercer. “I was so mad when I saw Hannah’s face that I would’ve hit her if she’d been there. My sister’s a sweet little kid who doesn’t hurt anyone.”
“You’d have had to stand in line, but this one time we both would’ve been wrong. Carol deserves to be punished for what happened, but we’re going to let the police handle it.” She bent and kissed his forehead. “I love you for how well you take care of Hannah. Later on, when she’s older and it’s some boy that gets out of line, then you can do whatever you think is right,” she said and winked.
She opened the door to their bedroom after that and found Emma sitting up and feeding the baby. Emma had shed her nightgown, and the sight of the two of them made her think she’d done something right in this world no matter her sins. She quickly got undressed and slipped in behind Emma and let her lean against her.
“How’d it go?” Emma asked, holding the baby’s hand and kissing it a few times.
“Work’s done for the night, so let’s enjoy this while we can. Pretty soon he’ll be in the next room reading books about zombies way past his bedtime.” She ran her fingers gently over Billy’s head, and he let Emma go and seemed to stare up at her with a bit of a milk mustache.
“I think he knows the sound of your voice, love,” Emma said, trying to get him to keep going. “So zip it until he’s done or we’ll be up in an hour.”
“He doesn’t like to sleep because he thinks he’s missing something. Remember Hayden?” The nights of walking around with him had made her think the dark circles under her eyes would never go away, but they’d learned to nap when he was finally so tired he had no choice but to sleep.
“Hannah wasn’t any different, so you’re in for it.” Emma moved the baby up so she could burp him, then rested him against her upturned knees. “You know we haven’t had a chance to do this.”
Cain watched as she took his pajamas off, and he instinctively held his arms out when he was down to his diapers. She watched in wonder as Emma counted all his fingers and toes, kissing each one as she went. Billy was long, and his hair would eventually thin but then come back thick and dark. It amazed her how much you could love someone so new to your life.
“He’s perfect,” Emma said, finally handing him over so she could change him and redress him. She sang him the lullaby her mother had sung until they were in their twenties, and he was asleep when she put him down.
“He’s yours and mine, so of course he is,” she said as she came up behind Emma and wrapped her arm around her waist. “Do you have any regrets having another one?”
“What kind of question is that?” Emma’s head shot up so she could look back at her.
“A stupid one, I guess, because even though he’s so new I couldn’t imagine us not having him now, but I also imagine what one more would be like.”
“You’re going to have to share this one, you know. Hayden was the center of your world, but I think this kid will think that of his siblings too.”
“I know, and I felt that way about my siblings, but you’re wrong.” She moved so she could look down on Emma. “Hayden was the beginning of the family I’ve always wanted, but my wife was and is the center of my world.”
“And you ask why I love you?” Emma caressed her cheek and welcomed her kiss. “I’ll always remember spilling that tray on you and seeing those eyes for the first time. In that one moment I knew for certain I’d be lost forever, so my wish was you’d notice me even a little.”
“Ah, my little hayseed,” she said and dragged her hand down Emma’s body. “To this day I always thought it was my da’s hand on that tray. It was his version of a slap to the back of the head to say, ‘Pay attention to this one, Derby.’ I love you with all I am, lassie.”
“I need you to touch me,” Emma said, kissing her again.
“Not as much as I need to touch you.” She put her hand between Emma’s legs and placed one finger on her clit. No matter how much Emma begged, she wouldn’t move it from that spot and she’d be gentle. “Seeing you with Billy makes me believe there is good in this world, my love. But being with you makes me know for certain that you are mine and I’ll love you until I have no more days left.”
Emma got hard under the pad of her finger, and she dipped it down just to get it wet. This too had happened after Hayden’s birth, and Emma had convinced her it was okay despite what Sam and Ellie warned about, so she listened, knowing Emma knew what she wanted.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Emma said as her legs came farther apart, so she sped up but didn’t apply any more pressure.
Emma’s hips came off the bed, and she pulled hard on the hair at the back of her head, so Cain glanced down, knowing if her nipples were as hard as her clit she’d come. Like in the shower with her, Emma didn’t take long, but she grabbed her by the wrist when she started to move her hand. “It’s been a long while, so what’s your hurry?”
“If I get in trouble with Sam, I’m blaming you,” she said, pinching Emma’s clit between her fingers. “Want to try again? I’m pretty sure I can do better.”
“Always the overachiever,” Emma said as she pushed on the top of her head.
“There’s that, and then there’s this,” she said right before she put her flat tongue where her finger had been and just as fast took it away. “Stop me if I hurt you.”
“Stopping isn’t really what I have in mind right now, mobster,” Emma said, moving her head back by her hair. “As a matter of fact, stopping isn’t coming up again tonight.”
Chapter Twenty-seven
Cain went down first the next morning and carried the baby with her so Emma could sleep a little while longer. “Hey, Mom,” Hannah said when she sat at the table in the kitchen and held her arms out for her brother. She smiled as Carmen hovered close by.
“How about you, Hayden, and me go ride the carousel this weekend?” Carmen took Billy when Hannah took her hands off him to clap. “We’ll give your mama a break and go have some fun.”
“Can Lucy come too?”
“If her mom doesn’t mind, sure.” She’d mentioned the fun to see if Hannah would tell her anymore about Lucy or her parents. “I bet her mom misses her when she’s over here though, huh?”
Hannah shook her head, and her smile disappeared, so perhaps there was more that she wasn’t saying. “She likes it here better.”
“You’re a good friend, princess, but you know if anything bothers you, that’s what Mama and I are here for.” She reached over and picked Hannah up and put her down on
her lap. “You’re getting big.”
“Mama told me that too, but I got nothing to say,” Hannah said, and Cain still wasn’t convinced.
“Then we’ll have fun, and if you need to say something I’ll be happy to listen, and no matter what, I won’t be mad.”
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.” Hannah gave her a hug, then went with Sabana when she walked in. “See you later.”
“Miss Cain,” Carmen said, bouncing Billy as she walked around with him. “That little girl’s mother call for Miss Emma today and say she coming here. I say okay, so I hope you don’t mind.”
“Actually, that’s a good thing. I’m dying to meet her,” she said as she made a plate to take up to Emma. “Do you mind watching him a minute?”
“You take all day if you want.” Carmen kissed the top of Billy’s head and smiled. “I could do this all the time, he so sweet.”
“You’re better than a massage at the spa, mobster,” Emma said when she delivered breakfast. “Did I leave you in a horrible state when I finally fell asleep?”
“Nothing that’ll kill me, so eat up. You’ll need it.”
“If you have time this morning I’m raring to go again.” Emma winked as she took a big bite of a biscuit.
“You’ll have to go all right, but unfortunately for me, it’s downstairs to meet Lucy’s mom.” She accepted a bite from Emma and watched as she walked naked to the bathroom. “Carmen said she called earlier so she should be here soon.”
“Want to take bets on what these people are like?” Emma said, sounding muffled through the wall, so Cain went in and joined her.
“We’ll soon find out, but let me go and see if Merrick and Katlin have arrived yet with a hint.” She kissed Emma before she shoved the toothbrush into her mouth and waved over her shoulder. “Take your time.”
“Don’t scare anyone until I get down there.”
“I’ll try my best,” she said and laughed all the way to the first floor, finding Hayden and Hannah ready for school. “You two have a good day and call if you need anything.”